diff --git a/Source/Engine/Particles/ParticleEffect.cpp b/Source/Engine/Particles/ParticleEffect.cpp
index 4b7923439..651ff719b 100644
--- a/Source/Engine/Particles/ParticleEffect.cpp
+++ b/Source/Engine/Particles/ParticleEffect.cpp
@@ -253,6 +253,11 @@ int32 ParticleEffect::GetParticlesCount() const
     return Instance.GetParticlesCount();
 }
 
+bool ParticleEffect::GetIsPlaying() const
+{
+    return _isPlaying;
+}
+
 void ParticleEffect::ResetSimulation()
 {
     Instance.ClearState();
@@ -275,6 +280,30 @@ void ParticleEffect::UpdateSimulation(bool singleFrame)
     Particles::UpdateEffect(this);
 }
 
+void ParticleEffect::Play(bool reset)
+{
+    _play = true;
+    _isPlaying = true;
+    
+    if (reset)
+        ResetSimulation();
+    else
+        UpdateSimulation(true);
+}
+
+void ParticleEffect::Pause()
+{
+    _play = false;
+    _isPlaying = false;
+}
+
+void ParticleEffect::Stop()
+{
+    _play = false;
+    _isPlaying = false;
+    ResetSimulation();
+}
+
 void ParticleEffect::UpdateBounds()
 {
     BoundingBox bounds = BoundingBox::Empty;
@@ -395,6 +424,9 @@ void ParticleEffect::SetParametersOverrides(const Array<ParameterOverride>& valu
 
 void ParticleEffect::Update()
 {
+    if (!_play)
+        return;
+    
     // Skip if off-screen
     if (!UpdateWhenOffscreen && _lastMinDstSqr >= MAX_Real)
         return;
@@ -417,7 +449,17 @@ void ParticleEffect::Update()
 void ParticleEffect::UpdateExecuteInEditor()
 {
     if (!Editor::IsPlayMode)
+    {
+        // Always Play in editor while not playing.
+        // Could be useful to have a GUI to change this state
+        if (!_play)
+        {
+            _play = true;
+            _isPlaying = true;
+        }
+        
         Update();
+    }
 }
 
 #endif
@@ -576,6 +618,7 @@ void ParticleEffect::Serialize(SerializeStream& stream, const void* otherObj)
     SERIALIZE(SimulationSpeed);
     SERIALIZE(UseTimeScale);
     SERIALIZE(IsLooping);
+    SERIALIZE(PlayOnStart);
     SERIALIZE(UpdateWhenOffscreen);
     SERIALIZE(DrawModes);
     SERIALIZE(SortOrder);
@@ -675,6 +718,7 @@ void ParticleEffect::Deserialize(DeserializeStream& stream, ISerializeModifier*
     DESERIALIZE(SimulationSpeed);
     DESERIALIZE(UseTimeScale);
     DESERIALIZE(IsLooping);
+    DESERIALIZE(PlayOnStart);
     DESERIALIZE(UpdateWhenOffscreen);
     DESERIALIZE(DrawModes);
     DESERIALIZE(SortOrder);
@@ -706,6 +750,9 @@ void ParticleEffect::OnEnable()
     GetScene()->Ticking.Update.AddTickExecuteInEditor<ParticleEffect, &ParticleEffect::UpdateExecuteInEditor>(this);
 #endif
 
+    if (PlayOnStart)
+        Play();
+    
     // Base
     Actor::OnEnable();
 }
diff --git a/Source/Engine/Particles/ParticleEffect.h b/Source/Engine/Particles/ParticleEffect.h
index 3487a35f4..5a4bae771 100644
--- a/Source/Engine/Particles/ParticleEffect.h
+++ b/Source/Engine/Particles/ParticleEffect.h
@@ -184,6 +184,8 @@ private:
     uint32 _parametersVersion = 0; // Version number for _parameters to be in sync with Instance.ParametersVersion
     Array<ParticleEffectParameter> _parameters; // Cached for scripting API
     Array<ParameterOverride> _parametersOverrides; // Cached parameter modifications to be applied to the parameters
+    bool _play = false;
+    bool _isPlaying = false;
 
 public:
     /// <summary>
@@ -235,9 +237,15 @@ public:
     bool IsLooping = true;
 
     /// <summary>
-    /// If true, the particle simulation will be updated even when an actor cannot be seen by any camera. Otherwise, the simulation will stop running when the actor is off-screen.
+    /// Determines whether the particle effect should play on start.
     /// </summary>
     API_FIELD(Attributes="EditorDisplay(\"Particle Effect\"), DefaultValue(true), EditorOrder(60)")
+    bool PlayOnStart = true;
+
+    /// <summary>
+    /// If true, the particle simulation will be updated even when an actor cannot be seen by any camera. Otherwise, the simulation will stop running when the actor is off-screen.
+    /// </summary>
+    API_FIELD(Attributes="EditorDisplay(\"Particle Effect\"), DefaultValue(true), EditorOrder(70)")
     bool UpdateWhenOffscreen = true;
 
     /// <summary>
@@ -326,6 +334,11 @@ public:
     /// </summary>
     API_PROPERTY() int32 GetParticlesCount() const;
 
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Gets whether or not the particle effect is playing.
+    /// </summary>
+    API_PROPERTY(Attributes="NoSerialize, HideInEditor") bool GetIsPlaying() const;
+
     /// <summary>
     /// Resets the particles simulation state (clears the instance state data but preserves the instance parameters values).
     /// </summary>
@@ -337,6 +350,22 @@ public:
     /// <param name="singleFrame">True if update animation by a single frame only (time time since last engine update), otherwise will update simulation with delta time since last update.</param>
     API_FUNCTION() void UpdateSimulation(bool singleFrame = false);
 
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Plays the simulation.
+    /// </summary>
+    /// /// <param name="reset">If true, the simulation will be reset</param>
+    API_FUNCTION() void Play(bool reset = true);
+
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Pauses the simulation.
+    /// </summary>
+    API_FUNCTION() void Pause();
+
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Stops and resets the simulation.
+    /// </summary>
+    API_FUNCTION() void Stop();
+
     /// <summary>
     /// Updates the actor bounds.
     /// </summary>